The vote by members of the House of Lords to allow doctors to consider the "need for supportive parenting" rather than the "need for a father" when they're deciding whether to offer fertility treatment has been welcomed by those campaigning for the rights of single women and lesbian couples.
Under the existing law in the UK, doctors are required to consider the need of any potential child for a father before offering treatment. Many feel this law is outdated, and in reality doctors have been offering treatment to single women and lesbian couples for many years. There was opposition to the new wording from some peers, who felt the change would sent out the wrong message about how our society regards the role of the father, but there was a substantial majority of members in favour of the change.
Solicitor Natalie Gamble, who is an expert in fertility law, welcomed the decision, saying the peers "made the right decision to amend a discriminatory piece of law which no longer has any meaning in practice."
The new wording has yet to be finalised by MPs in the Commons.
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